Advance photos/Frank J. JohnsIn January 2008, this home at 120 West Cedarview Ave., in Richmond, constructed in 1980 with 2,500 square feet, brought in $1.55 million.

STATEN ISLAND, NY - EAST SHORE - Is there diversity on the East Shore?

The answer is a definite yes by at least one measure: The selling prices of one-family homes last year. They vary hugely depending on neighborhood, with hilltop residences going for big bucks in keeping with their sky-high location. The shore doesn't seem to count for as much, when it comes to perceived value on this side of Staten Island.

In Richmond and Todt Hill, top prices reached $1.5 million and up.

In Dongan Hills, the three most expensive homes all sold for over $1 million.

The highest selling prices in Arrochar, Grasmere, and Emerson Hill hovered in the high $900,000s.

Among the more moderately prices homes on the East Shore was this one at 225 Currie Ave., Oakwood, built in 1955. It sold for $248,490 in January 2008.

But other neighborhoods were much more modest, price-wise. The high end in New Dorp Beach was $560,000; in Rosebank, it was $495,000.

Throughout the East Shore, buyers routinely purchased single-family houses for under $350,000, according to city records.

According to the Staten Island Board of Realtors (SIBOR), the average price of a single-family home last year (including free-standing, attached and semi-attached models, cooperatives and condominiums) was $398,918.

In most neighborhoods, older homes - built between the 1920's and 1950's - held their own at the top end of the market against residences of very recent construction.

Last year's data from the city Department of Finance makes a strong statement: There is plenty of choice in the East Shore's single-family housing market, whether you are a first-time buyer, trading up or trading down.

THE HIGH END

On Todt Hill, five homes sold for over $1 million. The top price of $2.55 million was paid last July for 545 Ocean Terr., built in 1940 with 5,200 square feet of living space. Next was a 4,200-square-foot house constructed in 1997 at 792 Todt Hill Rd., which fetched $2.1 million in November.

In Richmond, there were 17 one-family homes purchased last year for $700,000 or more. The highest price paid was $1.68 million, in July, for 224 Center St., an enormous 6,800-square-foot house built in 2006. A home at 120 West Cedarview Ave., constructed in 1980 with 2,500 square feet, brought in $1.55 million in January 2008. An older 2,300-square-foot home at 261 Ardsley St., dating back to 1950, sold for $965,000 a year ago in March.

Dongan Hills had its own share of pricey homes. At the top end, 20 Old Farmers Lane sold in September for $1.3 million. Built in 1986, it includes 5,200 square feet of interior space. The 4,000-square-foot house at 45 Hunton St., constructed in 1930, was purchased for $1.275 million in June. A two-story home at 11 Scranton St., built two years ago on a lot measuring 70 by 182 feet, brought in $1.15 million, also in June. The 2 1/2-story house at 306 Cromwell Ave., constructed in 1925, fetched $995,000 last July.

APPROACHING $1M

There were not many recorded sales of single-family homes in Grasmere, Arrochar, and Emerson Hill last year. But the highest price paid in all three neighborhoods came very close to $1 million.

In Grasmere, a 5,600-square-foot house built three years ago at 66 Normalee Rd. sold for $995,000 in June.

The top price paid for a one-family in Arrochar was $950,000, in October, for 212 Major Ave. Constructed in 1925, the home has 4,256 square feet of interior space.

On Emerson Hill, 34 Michael Loop, built eight years ago with 4,200 square feet, sold for $995,000, in September.

PATTERNS: NEW DORP

In New Dorp and New Dorp Heights, older homes make up the highest-priced sellers.

The top-seller in New Dorp was 274 Edison St., which sold for $660,000 in March 2008. This 1,870-square-foot house was built in 1950. Next was 334 Rose Ave. (2,600 square feet), also constructed in 1950. It sold for $640,000 in August. The residence at 161 Third St., built in 1945 with 2,300 square feet, was purchased for $590,000 in September.

In the New Dorp Heights area, the top price paid was $766,000, in August, for 41 Foxholm St., 1,700 square feet and dating back to 1925.

LIGHTHOUSE HILL

Only a handful of properties were sold last year on Lighthouse Hill, all of them single-family houses. The top price was paid for 181 Meisner Ave., a 2,800-square-foot home built in 1975; it was purchased for $845,000 in March 2008.

THE BEACHES

Among the East Shore's beach communities, South Beach led the way last year at the high end. The top price was $830,000 in February 2008 for the 2,300-square-foot home at 465 Father Capodanno Blvd., built in 1920.

Oakwood Beach was less expensive. The top price was $690,000, in September, for 357 Montreal Ave. (2,400 square feet; built in 1978). Next came a smaller home at 331 Penn Ave. (1,330 square feet; built in 1960); it sold for $686,000 last April. A newer home at 486 Riga St., built eight years ago with 1,825 square feet, was purchased for $510,000.

Homes constructed in New Dorp Beach between 2005 and 2007 were at the top of that local market. The highest recorded price was $560,000, paid in May for 244 Roma Ave. (1,750 square feet). A larger home at 35 Milton Ave. (2,550 square feet) sold for $520,000 in June. In third place was 134 Winham Ave. (1,420 square feet), purchased for $519,308 in January 2008.

Of the four communities, Midland Beach had the largest number of recorded one-family-home sales, and the most modest prices. At the top end, 287 Rudyard St., dating to 1930, sold for $525,000 in July. A newer and larger home at 452 Laconia Ave., (technically in Dongan Hills), built in 2004 at 2,150 square feet, sold for $499,000 in July; 1038 Olympia Blvd., 1,000 square feet and 1925 vintage, sold for $529,000 in July.

LOWER PRICES

So where are the East Shore's lower-priced homes?

In Grant City, the highest price paid was $880,786 in June for a 4,000-square-foot, one-family at 1835 Richmond Rd., built in 2006. In second place was 50 Hamden Ave., which sold for $556,700 in January 2008. Constructed in 1955, it is a modest 1,420 square feet. Next was 16 Bowden St. (2,000 square feet). It was built in the 1960s and was bought for $530,000 in June.

In Concord, top prices were less than $500,000. A 1,200-square-foot home at 35 Roff St., built in 1930, sold for $458,880 in August. A few one-family homes in the neighborhood were purchased for under $325,000 last year.

Close to the Narrows, in Rosebank, the top end for a one-family was $495,000, paid in October for 192 Garfield Ave., built three years ago with 2,200 square feet of interior space. Nearby Clifton saw a few homes sell last year for under $265,000. The top price paid for a one-family was $405,000 at 93 Greenfield Ave., constructed in 2004 with 1,710 square feet. The 1,800-square-foot home at 99 Townsend Ave., built in 2005, sold for $390,000 in February 2008. In third place was 25 Park Hill Ave., dating back to 1940. Purchased for $359,000 in August, it has 1,150 square feet of living space.